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Two Major Employee Benefits Changes

GBS Benefits | Industry News

Feb 02
2018

On Dec. 22, 2017, the IRS issued a notice that delays the furnishing deadline for 2017 Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting and President Donald Trump signed the tax reform bill, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, into law, eliminating the individual mandate penalty beginning in 2019. This article briefly summarizes the implications of both of these actions.
IRS Delays Furnishing Deadline
The IRS’ Notice 2018-06 extends the following:
• The due date for furnishing forms under Sections 6055 and 6056 for 2017 for 30 days, from Jan. 31, 2018, to March 2, 2018
• The good-faith transition relief from penalties related to 2017 information reporting under Sections 6055 and 6056

However, Notice 2018-06 does not extend the due date for filing forms with the IRS for 2017. The due date for filing with the IRS under Sections 6055 and 6056 remains Feb. 28, 2018 (April 2, 2018, if filing electronically).

Repeal of the Individual Mandate Penalty

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes significant changes to the federal tax code. The bill does not impact the majority of the ACA tax provisions. However, it does reduce the ACA’s individual shared responsibility (or individual mandate) penalty to zero, effective beginning in 2019.

Individuals continue to be required to comply with the mandate (or pay a penalty) for 2017 and 2018. A failure to obtain acceptable health insurance coverage for these years may still result in a penalty for the individual.

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